UPDATE 1-Soccer-Wiese heroics send Bremen into Cup final
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* Bremen beat Hamburg on penalties to reach Cup final
* Bremen to meet Leverkusen in Cup final
BERLIN, April 22 (Reuters) - Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese saved three penalties against hosts Hamburg on Wednesday to send his team through to the German Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Wiese kept out three of four Hamburg penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time to silence a 56,000 crowd in the Nordbank Arena. Werder scored all three of their spot-kicks.
Per Mertesacker had put Bremen ahead early in the first half before Ivica Olic levelled in the 67th minute.
Hamburg, still in the title hunt, will play bitter rivals Bremen another three times in the coming weeks for a place in the UEFA Cup final and in the league title race.
"In cup matches we always have a clear aim. The team really puts in their best performance at these matches," Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf said, who can now still hope of competing in Europe next season after a disappointing Bundesliga season. Continued...
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